Crunch time for Guthrie’s Giants in Super Netball League

SERENA GUTHRIE continues her battle for supremacy in Australia tomorrow with a season-defining home clash for Giants Netball, writes Jason Fox.

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England's Serena Guthrie in action. (22176173)

The Islander has met world-class expectations for the Sydneysiders in the second year of the Suncorp Super Netball franchise, and after helping her club to nine wins from 13 she is again set to feature heavily in a late fight for top spot.

Giants host current leaders West Coast Fever in the final round of the regular season, with both teams knowing they could finish anywhere from first to fourth ahead of the championship play-offs.

Super Netball’s new bonus-point system will keep all sides on their toes right up until the final claxon, given that a maximum of eight points are on offer per game (four for a win, plus one for every quarter won). However, with up to three points on offer in defeat throughout the campaign, Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds and defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning have all remained close enough to leapfrog Guthrie’s side at the last hurdle.

If Guthrie and co beat Fever tomorrow [10 am UK] to claim top spot, Giants would be handed a home tie for the major semi-final, against the runner-up. The top two are guaranteed two chances to reach this season’s Grand Final, as the loser of that major semi-final plays the winner of the minor semi (third vs fourth).

Officials behind the greatest league in world netball could not have asked for more exciting end to the 2018 season – one that could yet be the best in Guthrie’s career, following England’s gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games outing in April.